Feeding syringe holder

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a system is provided for administering a formulated food solution. The system includes a syringe body having a collar, a barrel, and at least one protrusion. The system includes a handle configured to be hung on a support and a holder body connected to the handle. The holder body has a central opening sized to receive the syringe body. The holder body includes at least one alignment portion configured to engage at least one protrusion of the syringe body and resist turning of the syringe body in the central opening of the holder body.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to patient enteral feeding systems and,more particularly, to a patient enteral feeding system that utilizesgravity to draw feeding solution out of a syringe body of the system andinto a feeding tube of a patient.

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tubes are used to convey a formulatedfood solution into a patient's stomach if the patient is unable toswallow food. In one approach, a syringe body is used as a reservoirthat receives the formulated food solution. The syringe body has a tipthat is connected to a tube for conveying the formulated food solutionto a feeding tube implanted in the patient. The feeding tube deliversthe formulated food solution directly into the patient's stomach.

One prior approach includes a rigid stand with a projecting arm thatreceives the syringe body and holds the syringe body at a highervertical position than the outlet of the tube connected thereto. Thestand has a C-clamp that receives the syringe body that holds thesyringe body upright. However, rigid stands are often difficult to useand take up space around a patient's home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a formulated food solution deliverysystem including a holder having a handle hung on an intravenous poleand a syringe body received in the holder;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the holder and syringe body ofFIG. 1 showing the handle of the holder separated from a body of theholder;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 3-3 in FIG. 1 showinglower tabs of the syringe body extending laterally outward throughopenings of the holder body and upper tabs of the syringe body receivedin pockets of the holder body;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the holder body of FIG. 2 showingdiametrically opposed openings of the holder body that receive the upperand lower tabs of the syringe body;

FIG. 5 is an elevational, exploded view of another holder with a handlethat includes a hook;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a formulated food solution deliverysystem including a holder, a syringe body received in the holder, and acap of the holder in a closed position wherein the cap covers an openingof the syringe body; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6 showing the cap in anopen position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a holder is provided for asyringe body of a formulated food solution delivery system. The holderincludes a handle configured to be hung on a support and a bodyconnected to the handle. The body has a central opening for receiving abarrel of a syringe body and is configured to keep the syringe bodyupright with the handle hung on the support. The body includes at leastone alignment portion of the body configured to engage at least oneprotrusion of the syringe body and resist turning of the syringe body inthe central opening of the body.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided foradministering a liquid food product. The system includes a syringe bodyhaving a collar, a barrel, and at least one protrusion. The systemincludes a handle configured to be hung on a support and a holder bodyconnected to the handle. The holder body has a central opening sized toreceive the syringe body. The holder body includes at least onealignment portion configured to engage at least one protrusion of thesyringe body and resist turning of the syringe body in the centralopening of the holder body.

With reference to FIG. 1, a formulated food solution delivery system 10is provided that includes a syringe body 12 for receiving a formulatedfood solution and a holder 14 having a handle 16 configured to be hungfrom a structure, such as an intravenous pole 18. The syringe body 12may be configured to receive, for example, 60 cc of formulated foodsolution. The holder 14 includes a body 30 and a releasable connection32 between the handle 16 and the body 30.

The syringe body 12 includes an upper opening 20 for receiving theformulated food solution and a tip 26 (see FIG. 2) configured toconnected to a tube 22 via a connector 24. During use, the tube 22 isplaced in communication with a patient's feeding tube and gravity drawsthe formulated food solution from within the syringe body 12, into thetube 22, into the patient's feeding tube, and into the patient'sstomach. In one embodiment, the tip 26 includes a male thread. Inanother embodiment, the tip 26 may be connected to the tube 22 via aEnFit connection.

Regarding FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 30 may have a generally tubularconfiguration with a central opening 34 that receives the syringe body12. The body 30 includes an upper, collar-receiving portion 36 againstwhich a collar 38 of the syringe body 12 seats. The body 30 furtherincludes a lower, barrel-receiving portion 40 that extends around abarrel 42 of the syringe body 12. The upper, collar-receiving portion 36resists movement of the syringe body 12 in direction 44 (see FIG. 1) andkeeps the syringe body 12 securely held at the desired verticalposition. One or more of the upper, collar-receiving portion 36 and thelower, barrel-receiving portion 40 includes at least one alignmentportion that restricts rotary movement of the syringe body 12 indirection 50 within the body 30. In this manner, the body 30 provides astable support for the syringe body 12 and resists any shifting of thesyringe body 12, such as due to movement of the tube 22 due to patientmovement.

In one embodiment, the at least one alignment portion includes one ormore pockets 52 of the body 30 as shown in FIG. 2. The pockets 52 eachreceive a projection, such as an upper tab 56, of the syringe body 12.The at least one alignment portion may also include one or more openings60 of the body 30. The openings 60 each receive a projection, such as alower tab 62, of the syringe body 12. The collar 38 of the syringe body12 includes a flange or rim 70, a frustoconical wall 72 extendingradially inward from the rim 70, and the tabs 56 extending radiallyoutwardly from the rim 70.

The handle 16 includes a pair of opposite end portions 74 and a loopportion 76 extending therebetween. Each end portion 74 includes a headportion 78, a neck portion 80, and a gap 82 extending around the neckportion 80. The upper, collar-receiving portion 36 of the body 30 of theholder 14 includes tabs 79 with openings 84 (see FIG. 4) that receivethe head portions 78 of the handle 16. In one approach, the headportions 78 of the handle 16 each have a maximum diameter thereacrossthat is slightly larger than a diameter of the associated opening 84 ofthe tab 79.

To connect the handle end portion 74 to one of the tabs 79, the headportion 78 is advanced into the opening 84 of the tab 79 until the headportion 78 snaps below the tab 79. With the head portion 78 below thetab 79, the head portion 78 has an upper surface 88 that contacts alower surface 81 (see FIG. 5) of the tab 79 and supports the body 30.The neck portion 80 extends through the opening 84 and has an outerdiameter slightly smaller than the opening 84 to provide a snug fit ofthe neck portion 80 in the opening 84. The connection between the handleend portions 74 and the tabs 79 of the body 30 orients the handle endportions 74 so that the handle end portions 74 each extend generallynormal to the associated tab 79. By generally normal, it is intendedthat there may be a slight curvature or angulation of the handle endportion 74 from normal as the handle end portion 74 extends away fromthe tab 79, such as an angulation of between 0.1 and 15 degrees fromnormal.

Regarding FIG. 2, the barrel 42 of the syringe body 12 includes anannular side wall 90 and the lower tabs 62 project radially outward fromthe side wall 90. In one embodiment, the upper tabs 56 and the lowertabs 62 are vertically aligned so that both the upper tabs 56 and lowertabs 62 advance into the openings 60 on the opposite sides of the body30 as the syringe body 12 is positioned in the holder 14. In oneembodiment, the upper, collar-receiving portion 36 of the holder 14includes a frustoconical wall portion 100 that extends around andsupports the collar 38 of the syringe body 12 once the syringe body 12has been positioned in the opening 34 of the body 30. The body 30 alsoincludes a sleeve 102 that extends around the barrel 42 of the syringebody 12. The inner diameter of the sleeve 102 is sized slightly largerthan the outer diameter of the barrel 42 so that the barrel 42 is firmlyreceived within the sleeve 102. In one approach, the sleeve 102 includesa collar portion 104 that extends completely around the barrel 42without interruption to provide a stable connection between the body 30of the holder 14 and the syringe body 12.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each pocket 52 of the body 30 includesa floor 110 that extends below the associated upper tab 56 of thesyringe body 12 and a pair of side walls 112 that extend upward alongopposite sides of the upper tab 56. With reference to FIG. 5, the sidewalls 112 are separated by a gap 114 having a distance 116 sized topermit the upper tab 56 to be advanced downwardly into the gap 114 andseated against the floor 110. The sleeve 102 includes wall portions 120on opposite sides of the opening 60. When one of the lower tabs 62 ofthe syringe body 12 is received in the opening 60, the lower tab 62 willcontact or be adjacent to the wall portions 120. In this manner, contactbetween the lower tab 62 and one of the wall portions 120 resiststurning of the syringe body 12 in direction 50 relative to the body 30.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 5, the lower tabs 62 of the syringe body 12 mayseat against bridge portions 130 of the body 30 that connect the wallportions 120. Further, the upper tabs 56 of the syringe body 12 seatagainst the floors 110 of the pockets 52 of the body 30. This engagementresists movement of the syringe body 12 in direction 44 (see FIG. 1)under the weight of the formulated food solution in an internal volume140 of the syringe body 12. Regarding FIG. 3, the central opening 34 ofthe body 30 extends along a longitudinal axis 142 and the upper andlower tabs 56, 62 of the syringe body 12 extend laterally outward ontothe floors 110 and the bridge portions 130 of the body 30.

In one embodiment, the body 30 has an axial length that is less thanhalf of the axial length of the syringe body 12. This permits the tip 26to be exposed for ready connection to the tube 22 as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. This also permits viewing of a measurement indicium, such ascalibrations 145, on the exterior of the barrel 42 of the syringe body12. In this manner, a patient may readily visually confirm that thesyringe body 12 has been filled with the desired volume of formulatedfood solution.

Regarding FIG. 4, the rim 70 of the syringe body 12 includes halves 150separated by the openings 60. Each opening 60 includes a wide firstportion 154 having a width 152 and a narrow second portion 158 having awidth 156 that is less than the width 152. The different widths 152, 156form a notched configuration of each of the openings 60. Further, thewide first portion 154 may accommodate a wider upper tab 56 while thenarrow second portion 158 may more closely conform to the width of oneof the narrower lower tabs 62. The body 30 of the holder 14 may therebycomplement the protruding features of the syringe body 12.

As shown as in FIG. 4, the frustoconical wall 72 of the body 30 includesat least one upwardly facing upper surface 170. The upper surface 170has a taper that matches the taper of a lower surface 172 of the collar38 of the syringe body 12 (see FIG. 2). The nesting surfaces 170, 172help provide a snug fit of the syringe body 12 in the holder 14.

With reference to FIG. 5, another handle 200 is provided that may beused to connect the body 30 to a support structure. The handle 200includes end portions 202, 204 and a loop portion 206 extendingtherebetween. The handle 200 also includes a hook 208 that may be loopedover a structure to assist in hanging the handle 200 from a supportstructure. The handles 16, 200 may be releasably connected to the body30 to permit a user to select the handle 16, 200 for a particularapplication. The body 30 and one or more of the handles 16, 200 may beprovided in a kit with the syringe body 12 and tube 22.

In one embodiment, the holder 14 is made of one or more plasticmaterials, such as polypropylene or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS), and may be manufactured using an injection molding process. Forexample, the body 30 may be made using a one-shot injection moldingprocess. The body 30 and the handles 16, 200 may be made of differentmaterials. For example, the body 30 may be made of a first polypropylenehaving a first shore durometer hardness and the handles 16, 200 may bemade of a second polypropylene having a different, second shoredurometer hardness.

In one approach, the system 10 is used to administer a formulated foodsolution by first positioning the syringe body 12 in the body 30 of theholder 14. Next, the handle 200 (for example) is attached to the body 30and the tube 22 is connected to the syringe body tip 26. The tube 22 isconnected to the patient's feeding tube. The holder 14 and syringe body12 therein are then hung on a structure such as the intravenous pole 18or a door. The interior volume 140 of the syringe body 12 is filled withthe desired volume of the formulated food solution, which the patientcan visually confirm using the exposed calibrations 145. Gravity drawsthe formulated food solution into the tube 22, into the patient'sfeeding tube, and into the patient's stomach.

With reference to FIG. 6, a formulated food solution delivery system 300is provided that is similar in many respects to the system 10 discussedabove such that differences between the systems 10, 300 will behighlighted. The formulated food solution delivery system 300 includes asyringe body 302 and a holder 304. The holder 304 includes a handle 305and a lid 306. The syringe body 302 includes an opening 308 (see FIG. 7)for receiving formulated food solution and the lid 306 is movablebetween a closed position (see FIG. 6) wherein the lid 306 covers theopening 308 and an open position (see FIG. 7) wherein the opening 308 isuncovered. By covering the opening 308, the lid 306 resists egress offormulated food solution outward through the opening 308 from within thesyringe body 302. This reduces the risk of a user spilling theformulated food solution such as if the user inadvertently bumps theformulated food solution delivery system 300 during a feeding.

The lid 306 may be made of a flexible material, such as a polypropylene,and may be made of the same material as the handle 305. The lid 306includes a cover portion 310 connected to a flange 314 of the holder 304by a connector such as a tether 312. In one embodiment, the lid 306 hasa unitary, one-piece construction including the cover portion 310 andthe tether 312. The tether 312 is elongate and includes a barbconfigured to fit in an opening of a flange 314 of a body 307 of theholder 304.

The cover portion 310 has a frustoconical portion 320 that seats againsta frustoconical portion 322 of the syringe body 302. The cover portion310 further includes a plug portion 324 configured to occlude theopening 308 of the syringe body 302. For example, the syringe body 302may have a cylindrical wall 323 with an inner diameter and the plugportion 324 of the lid 306 has an outer diameter larger than the innerdiameter. This causes the plug portion 324 to form a press fit with thecylindrical wall 323 when the lid 306 is in the closed position. Thepress fit between the lid 306 and the syringe body 302 provides a sealthat resists egress of formulated food solution outward through theopening 308 of the syringe body 302. To open the lid 306, the user pullsupward on a tab 326 of the lid 306 to disengage the plug portion 324 ofthe lid 306 from within the opening 308 of the syringe body 302.

While there have been illustrated and described particular embodimentsof the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changesand modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it isintended for the present invention to cover all those changes andmodifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1.-21. (canceled)
 22. A syringe body holder comprising: a handleconfigured to be hung on a support; a body connected to the handle andhaving a central opening for receiving a barrel of a syringe body, thebody having an upper frustoconical wall portion and a lower annular wallportion for receiving the syringe body barrel therethrough, the bodyconfigured to keep the syringe body upright with the handle hung on thesupport; and an alignment portion extending from a portion of the upperfrustoconical wall portion for receiving a projection of the syringebody to inhibit the syringe body from rotating within the centralopening of the body.
 23. The syringe body holder of claim 22, whereinthe alignment portion is a pocket including a first side wall and asecond side wall connected by a floor, the floor supporting theprojection of the syringe body and the first and second side wallsinhibiting substantial rotation of the syringe body.
 24. The syringebody holder of claim 22, further comprising a second alignment portionfor receiving a second projection of the syringe body.
 25. The syringebody holder of claim 24, further comprising third and fourth alignmentportions for receiving third and fourth projections of the syringe body,the first and third alignment portions being adjacent one another andopposite the second and fourth alignment portions.
 26. The syringe bodyholder of claim 24, wherein the second alignment portion is a throughopening on a side of the body sized to receive the second projection ofthe syringe body.
 27. The syringe body holder of claim 26, wherein thealignment portion is adjacent the through opening.
 28. The syringe bodyholder of claim 26, wherein the through opening has a first portion inthe upper frustoconical wall portion and a second portion in the lowerannular wall portion.
 29. The syringe body holder of claim 22, whereinthe body includes at least one flat flange extending radially outwardfrom the upper frustoconical wall portion and the handle includes an endportion connected to the at least one flat flange and extending awayfrom the at least one flat flange generally normal to the at least oneflat flange.
 30. The syringe body holder of claim 22, wherein the handleis elongated and includes a first end portion configured to bereleasably connected to the body and an opposite, second end portionconfigured to be releasably connected to the body.
 31. The syringe bodyholder of claim 22, further comprising a lid movable between a closedposition wherein the lid covers an opening of the syringe body and anopen position wherein the lid is spaced from the opening of the syringebody.
 32. A method for administering a formulated food solution, themethod comprising: positioning a syringe body having a frustoconicalcollar portion and a barrel portion in a central opening of a body of aholder having an upper frustoconical wall portion for supporting thefrustoconical collar portion of the syringe body and a lower annularwall portion for receiving the barrel portion of the syringe bodytherethrough; aligning a projection of the syringe body with analignment portion extending from a portion of the upper frustoconicalwall portion of the holder; and hanging the handle on a structure. 33.The method of claim 32, further comprising: filling an interior volumeof the syringe body with a formulated food solution.
 34. The method ofclaim 32, including attaching the handle to the body by releasablyconnecting a first end portion of the handle to the body and releasablyconnecting a second end portion of the handle to the body.